The rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was sent to a pre-trial detention center for two months with the possibility of release on bail. The defense plans to appeal the court’s decision.
The Kiev Solomensky District Court sent Metropolitan Pavel Lebed, rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, to a pre-trial detention center for two months with the option to pay a bail of 33 million hryvnia. Reported by “RBC-Ukraine” with reference to Elena Kovaleva, spokesperson for the Kiev district prosecutor’s office.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Lebed met with one of the witnesses in the criminal case for violating the duties imposed by the court. The metropolitan denied the crime, saying that it did not recognize the witness. The defense plans to appeal.
After the selection of a new preventive measure, Pavel Lebed told reporters that he did not know where to find bail of 33 million hryvnia and did not agree with the court’s decision to detain him.
He said in court, “An amount like 33 million can’t be paid on my behalf without the prosecutor.”
At the court session on Friday, July 14, the prosecutor gave several statements that, according to the investigation, belonged to Pavel Lebed.
Among the statements uttered in court, as BBC Ukraine wrote: “Stupid idiots in America say they pray for peace and then push their guns”, “In Ternopil everyone would have already given each other directly to the front – they are certain to overthrow eastern and central Ukraine”. they are doing, all this Banderaism will flourish there”, “America is fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian.”
Pavel Lebed replied that he did not recognize the accusations and was “ready to testify about the gospel.”
“It’s not all true. I’ve never been on the side of the aggressor, I’ve never been on the side of Putin,” he said.
What is known about the Metropolitan Pavel case
On April 1, 2023, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Deputy), Pavel Lebed, rector of the Kiev Caves Monastery, filed a criminal complaint by the Security Service of Ukraine under two articles of the Criminal Code.
On the same day, the Shevchenkovsky District Court chose for himself a preventive measure in the form of 60 days of house arrest with an electronic wristband. Initially, the metropolitan wanted the court session to be postponed to another day due to health problems, but the court refused to reschedule and issued a preventive injunction.
In early July, during a court hearing, the Metropolitan of the UOC-MP complained that he was constantly charging due to the electronic wristband, and now he is not a Pasha-Mercedes, but a Pasha-Tesla.
On July 13, it became known that another suspect was declared under two articles of the Criminal Code of Metropolitan Pavel – Part 2 of Art. 161 (violation of the equality of citizens based on their religious beliefs has been committed repeatedly by an official), as well as 436-2. Part 3 of the article (a repeated act of the Russian Federation to Ukraine by an official). The sanctions of the articles foresee a prison sentence of up to 8 years with the confiscation of property.
The SBU reported that the day before it received the first suspicion, the former governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra said in an interview that Ukraine was not an independent state and described the all-out invasion of the Russian Federation as “internal conflict”.
Source: Focus
Bridger is a political journalist at 24 News Breaker, covering the Politics section with over 5 years of experience. Known for their detail-oriented reporting, Bridger delivers insightful and engaging analysis on political issues.